Ticket prices, not fair weather fans to blame for empty seats at Gators' season opener

By Beth KassabOrlando Sentinel Columnist

CaptionGators.

Gary W. Green / Orlando Sentinel

Florida takes the field for their season opening NCAA college football game against Toledo in Gainesville, Fla. Saturday, August 31, 2013. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel)

Florida takes the field for their season opening NCAA college football game against Toledo in Gainesville, Fla. Saturday, August 31, 2013. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel) (Gary W. Green / Orlando Sentinel)

Florida's marching band takes the field before the start of the Gators' season opening 24-6 win over the Toledo Rockets in a NCAA college football game in Gainesville, Fla. Saturday, August 31, 2013. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel)

Florida's marching band takes the field before the start of the Gators' season opening 24-6 win over the Toledo Rockets in a NCAA college football game in Gainesville, Fla. Saturday, August 31, 2013. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel) (Gary W. Green / Orlando Sentinel)

Florida running back Mack Brown (33) runs for a first down during the first quater of their season opening NCAA college football game against Toledo in Gainesville, Fla. Saturday, August 31, 2013. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel)

Florida running back Mack Brown (33) runs for a first down during the first quater of their season opening NCAA college football game against Toledo in Gainesville, Fla. Saturday, August 31, 2013. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel) (Gary W. Green / Orlando Sentinel)

Florida's marching band plays before the start of the Gators' season opening 24-6 win over the Toledo Rockets in a NCAA college football game in Gainesville, Fla. Saturday, August 31, 2013. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel)

Florida's marching band plays before the start of the Gators' season opening 24-6 win over the Toledo Rockets in a NCAA college football game in Gainesville, Fla. Saturday, August 31, 2013. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel) (Gary W. Green / Orlando Sentinel)

My colleague Mike Bianchi would have you believe that this is because Gators are fair weather fans. That we really don't stick together. And that we're spoiled by too many seasons that were title runs -- and wins.

Hogwash. This isn't about loyalty. People aren't abandoning the program. It's just that only 83,604 -- the lowest attendance for a season opener in recent memory -- were willing to pay to be at the Swamp.

Ticket prices and fans' reaction to them should scare the Gators more than Famous Jameis right now.

As I pointed out, the university tried something new this year. They offered a limited amount of tickets at steep discounts to recent graduates. And they sold out.

That tells me that people still want the in-person experience. They're just looking for value. Especially when the appeal of watching from your couch in the A/C with cheap concessions steps away in your fridge look even better against a high noon sweltering kick off.

And, on top of that, empty seats aren't a problem unique to UF. Sentinel Gators beat reporter Edgar Thompson wrote in July about how the SEC is grappling with sagging attendance throughout the conference.

And if the premier conference in college football is struggling to fill stadiums then you know it's a problem that goes beyond temperamental, fair weather fans.

The SEC is conducting market research to try to help solve the problem. They can do as many surveys as they want. But more value-priced tickets are the answer.

The Rolling Stones will play a concert at the newly renovated Orlando Citrus Bowl on June 12, Mayor Buddy Dyer confirmed at a news conference Tuesday morning, calling the British rockers the "world's greatest rock and roll band."